The US-Iran peace talks have entered a high-stakes showdown. In a phone interview with the New York Post, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning: if no deal is reached within 24 hours, the US military will launch a 'complete decimation' attack. He revealed that Navy ships are being loaded with 'the best ammunition and weapons ever' – even more powerful than those used in previous strikes on Iran.
Trump: 'We'll Know Within 24 Hours'
Trump told the Post: 'We're going to know within about 24 hours, we'll know very quickly.' He stressed that if the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the US will not hesitate to use these weapons to achieve 'complete decimation.' The threat casts a dark shadow over the talks scheduled in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Trust Deficit and Nuclear Red Lines
The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, includes White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran sends Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (who insists on Iran's 'inalienable right to enrich uranium') and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Trump criticized Iran's representatives for being deceptive: 'You're dealing with people we don't know if they'll tell the truth. To our faces they say destroy all nuclear weapons, then turn to the media and say we want enriched uranium. We'll see.'
Core Issues: Uranium, Hormuz Strait, and Proxies
The negotiations focus on four key demands: handing over an estimated 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium; ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz (Trump calls it a 'key component' of any ceasefire); ending Iran's support for regional proxies; and limiting ballistic missile programs in exchange for lifting US sanctions.
After a two-week temporary ceasefire, both sides have finally sat down at the negotiating table. Trump's 24-hour ultimatum and naval force posture will determine whether the Middle East sees peace or plunges into full-scale war.